"Faint 


uuKe  university  Libraries 

The  great  gathe 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #925 


THE  GREAT  GATHERING. 


Gathering  !  Where,  ami  for  what  purpose  ?  Tt  is  not 
a  gathering  of  the  learned  to  discuss  the  [»r<»^r*  ss  of  science; 
nor  of  artists  to  as~i.-t  eiK'h  other  in  tl  e  rievejoj  nuiit  of  the 
beautiful  ;  nor  of  ag?  i(  ulturists  to  suggest  the  t>esi  methods  of 
husbandry.  These  gathci  ings  ate  useiul.  and  tend  to  carry 
fonvntd  pood  objects.  But  there  is  a  greater  gathering  in 
prospect,  compared  with  which  all  hese  ;ire  ;is  nothing.  It  is 
when  the  good  and  had,  the  wi-e  and  foolish,  ihe  learned  a.-  d 
illiterate,  the  high  and  the  lo-*-,  kings  and  their  suhjects,  ma-ters 
and  servants,  young  and  old,  rich  and  poor,  will  meet  in  one 
Vast  assembly  hefore  the  thione  i  f  judgment. 

You  will  he  one  of  that  throng  im;n  use,  and  will  be  deeply 
concerned  in  the  purpose  *ih1  results  of  that  meeting,  Every 
thine  here  on  earth  is  poin  ing  to  it.  Every  step  you  take 
carries  yon  towards  it  Every  moment  brings  yon  nearer  to  its 
overshadowing  solemnity.  All  nations  ;ue  to  t»e  gathci  «d 
there.  Eternity  is  wide  enough  to  hold  them  all.  (jod  is 
greatenou  ;h  to  judge  them  all.  Whit  a  gathering!  All  who 
have  died,  and  all  who  shall  then  be  alive.  Even  the  sea  will 
he  summoned  to  give  up  its  dead.  Parent ■  and  children,  bus- 
hands  and  wives,  brothers  and  sisters,  friends  and  associate**, 
the  small  and  the  great,  will  come  to  this  gathering,  and  par- 
ticipate in  its  solemn  scenes.  Mere  spectators  there  will  he 
none.  All  will  be  participant*  You  will  be  among  the  num- 
ber. 

There  is  a  solemn  individuality  in  this  gathering.  Each  one 
is  to  stand  and  answer  for  himself.  k  For  every  one  of  us  must 
give  account  ••?  himself  unto  God."  Yes>  of  himself.  There 
mav  he  other  witnesses,  but  tin-  principal  witness  will  he  your- 
self, testifying  f  yourself  Memory  will  be  the  tablet,  and 
con  cience  the  accuser  .  The  past  will  all  come  up.  Forgotten 
sins  w  ill  rise,  and  ask  to  be  recorded.  All  that  you  have  done, 
all  that  you  have  said,  all  that  you  hare  even  thought^  wiU  com* 


A  '1)1;  GATHERING. 

into  view  under  Che  lighl  of  that  judgment  scene\ 
concealed  before,  it  must  all  come  out  then.  You  will  need  no 
accuser  ;  you .  will  be  yeur  own  accuser.  No  false  estimate  of 
3^ur  character  can  then  be  made.  You  will  appear  to  be  just 
what  you  arc.  The  very  motives  that  moved  you  \\iil  be  ex- 
plored,*! for  Cod  wili  bring  ever)'  work  into  judgment,  With 
every  secret  thing," 

It  wont  do  then  to  lose  sight  of  '.he  great  fact  that  you  are 
one  of  Cod's  responsible  creatures  ;ahd  that  you  must  give 
account  of  the  deeds  done  in  the  body,"  whether  (bey  be 
or  bad."  This  being  a  settled  truth,  revealed  in  the  Scriptures, 
and  confirmed  by  conscience,  is  it  not  your  duly,  aye,  and  your 
interest  too,  to  anticipate  it,  and  be  prepared  for  it?  Depend 
upon  it,  you  cannot  begin  this  preparation  too  soon.  Death 
and  the  judgment  are  near  each  Other;  "After  death  Cometh 
the  judgment."  Immediately  ?  ask  you.  Yes,  as  to  the  char- 
acter of  your  destiny.  Tbe  very  moment  you  die,  and  how- 
uncertain  that  moment  is  you  well  know,  you  will  realize  what 
your  eternal  destiny  is*  to  be.  You  will  have  tbe  consciousness 
of  it  in  your  7/Msery,  or  in  your  happiness:  This  is  o?/;?  judg- 
ment, but  not  tbe  fhval.  That  is  to  demonstrate  the  right- 
eousness of  your  doom.  Jt  is  to  show  to  the  universe  tbe  justice 
and  mercy  which  condemns  or  saves,  according  as  each  one 
ccepted  or  rejected  the  salvation  Offered  in  the  gospel. 
Practically  then,  and  so  far  as  each  individual  is  concerned,  the 
judgment  conies  immediately  after  death.  It  is  no  less  true 
than  often  repeated,"  As  death  leaves  us,  so  judgment  will  find 
us." 

AVe  discuss  not  the  question,  7iow  the  soul  suffers  or  enjoys 
apart  from  the  body.  The  bible  settles  the  grader  question, 
namely,  that  it  does  so  suffer  or  enjoy.  The  soul  of  a  Lazarus 
is  borne  on  angel's  wings  to  the  bosom  of  Abraham.  "The  rich 
man  also  died,  and  was  buried  ;  and  in  hell  be  lifted  up  bis  eyes, 
being  in  torments.''  Is  not  tbe  soul  susceptible,  even  in  ibis 
world,  of  pleasures  and  miseries  far' keener  than  those  of  the 
body  ?  Remorse  :  is  not  that  soul  suffering?  Love,  hatred  : 
have  not  these  their  seat  in  the  soul  ?  But  at  the  great  gather- 
ing, soul  and  body  will  be  reunited.  The  bodies  of  tbe  just 
and  of  the  unjust  will,  at  the  resurrection,  taki  each  its  identical 
soul ;  and  thus,  in  their  reorganized,  condition,  men'  will  go  to 
the  judgment  to  meet  a  final  verdict,   and   an    eternal  doom. 


This  is  the  end.     This  puts 

illustrious  ii  *H  the 

both  angels  and  men,    will  send    up  a 

berate  from   h, -riven    to    h/.l  :      "Alleluia; 
and  honor  and  power 

It  is   called  the  "   or1-    the  juffgmettf 

earned     For  fhi 

■  methinir  n 

;,(i<)tl.     &ui  rarther  off 

tirally  tluii  detfth.     S^ill  any  one  who  die  t,  and 

who  suitors  the   «•■  of  his  unt)  have 

the  decision  reversed  at  the  gen  ;ra 

latter  will  but  confirm    am  all  that  tb 

and    all  that  the  It  will  close  for  ev 

prison  of  despah .  I  the  redeemed  the  title-deed  of 

of  a  glorious  inheri'tflih  filthj  will  "  be  filthy 

Still,"  and  they  I  us    will  "  stilV1 

Ifyou  take  the  Bibl<  truth,  this 

can  neither  ved  nor   i\-  simple 

and  certain  verity,  thai  tb  '  ;   that   :i" 

responsible  at  it  will    confirm  the 

state  of  the"  righteous  and  the  unrighteous  for  ever.  God  has 
appointed  the  day.     The;  man  knoweth.     It  is 

an  awful  secret  in  the  eternal  1  •  ^  not 

be  known.  It  will  come,  however,  when  we  reast  expect  it.  Tt 
will  come  as  came  tj  It   wiii  find   multitudes  unpre- 

pared.    They    will  in  heart   fen 

ise  of  his  coming' V"     They  will  1  r  their    traffic,  indul- 

ging their  lusts,  planning  for  y oars  wholly  absorbed 

in  this  world's  pursuits.  How  terrible  to  such  the  summons, 
Come  to  judgment ! 

Bat  the  Judge;  who  is  Tie?     The  same  who  once  stood  at  a 
human    tribunal    crowned    with   thorns  ;    the    God-man    who 
"endured  the  cross,  despising  the    shame.!'     Behold  Rin 
coming  with  clouds,  on  his  great  white  throne,  with  the  sceptre 
of  dominion,  and  the  boo!.-  Before  Him  you  must 

stand  and  give  account  o(  all  yon  have  done  in  this  world  of 
probation.  Vain  will  it  be  to  call  upon  the  rocks  and  the 
mountains  to  cover  you.  Nothing  can  hide  you  from  the  face 
of  the  Judge.     The  myriads  that  surround  you  will  be  as  noth- 


4  THE    OEKAI    tlATtlgfelNft 

lug  to  you.  You  will  be  absorbed  in  vour  state.  Tf  you  have 
not  scared  the  advocacy  of  the  »fud$e  here  on  earth,  there 
will  be  none  to  plead  for  you  then.  If  her*,  you  have  rejected 
the  Lord  jcuia,  though  often  urged  to  accept  him,  if  you  have 
lived  to  yourself  and  to  pleasure,  what  Ban  you  expect  hut  to 
hear  that  awful  and  irrevocable  yerdic  ,  "Depart  from  me,  ye 
cursed."  If  you  have  made  no  preparation  for  these  eventful 
scenes,  begin  now.  Let  not  another  moment  0f  indecision  pass. 
Yon  have  no  time  to  spare  -Now  is  your  accepted  time.  The 
sceptiv  of  mercy  is  now  held  out  to  you.  Jesus  now  invites. 
The  atk  is  now  open,  and  the  cry  is,*Enter  in.  Bnt  soon  the 
nceptre  of  mercy  will  he  exchange.!  for  the  throne  .of  judgment ; 
the  door  of  hope  will  be  shu;  ;  and  the  diy  of  salvation  will  be 
gone  for  ever. 


THE  DAY  OF  JUDGMENT. 


1  That  awful  day  will  surely  come, 

Th'    appointed  hour  makes  haste, 
When   T  must  stand  before  my  Judge, 
And  pass  the  solemn  it;st. 

2  Thou  lerelj  Chief  of  all  my  j>yp, 

Thou  Sov'reign  of  my  heart, 
H'iw  could  I    ben-  to  hear  thy  voice 
Pronounce  the  sound,  "Depart !" 

3  The  thunder  of  that  .dismal  word 
WouM  so  distress  my  ear. 
Twou  d  teai •  my  soul  asunder,  Lord, 
With  most  lurnieniii  g  fear. 


6  Oh  !  tell  me  that  my  worthless  nnnie 
Is  graven  on  thy  hands  ; 
Show  nie  some  pro  in  se  in  thy  bo>.-k, 


i?M 


Where  my  salvalion  staud=.  v<>  f 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


